Rug and method of making the same



Jan. 8, 1963 E. MILLER RUG AND METHOD OF MAKING THE'SAME Filed Feb. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. Laura .5 M/flefl United States Patent 3,071,777 RUG AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAlVlE Laura E. Miller, Kansas City, Mo., assignor of one-half to Luther L. Shelton, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,214 Claims. (Cl. 2-278) This invention relates to a rug and a method of making the same, and more particularly, to a rug formed of a plurality of ball-like units which are initially formed as separate units and then secured together in contiguous relationship to form the completed rug.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a rug made. by the method of initially forming a cup-shaped receptacle from a piece of flexible material; placing an insert of relatively soft material within said cup-shaped receptacle; placing a patch in overlying relationship to the unit, a portion of the patch extending through the open top of the receptacle; and drawing the edges of said receptacle together to form the complete unit.

It is a yet further aim of this invention to provide a rug made in the manner hereinabove described which consists of a plurality of substantially ball-shaped units, the units each including an outer, substantially cupshaped receptacle, there being an insert of relatively soft material within said receptacle, and a patch overlying said insert and secured to said receptacle whereby to form a complete unit, there being a plurality of such units secured together in contiguous relationship to form the finished rug.

It is a yet further aim of this invention to provide a rug and method of making the same, wherein easily obtainable materials may be utilized by one relatively unskilled in the rug making art, such as a housewife or similar individual, to create a finished rug having a pleasing configuration, design or appearance, such design being easily variable by the maker of the rug through the employment of various colored or multi colored materials and additionally, through the arrangement of the individual ball-shaped units in the finished rug.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the piece of flexible material which is utilized to form the cup-shaped receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the insert;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the patch;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the piece of material illustrated in FIG. 1 as it is gathered about its edges to form the cup-shaped receptacle;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the receptacle having the insert disposed therewithin;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View showing the receptacle having the insert therein and the patch overlying the insert;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the patch is secured to the receptacle;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of several of the ball-shaped units disposed incontiguous relationship; I

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of several of the ballshaped units disposed in contiguous relationship and illustrating the manner in which the same are secured together; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken through two of the ball-shaped units in their finished condition.

The rugmade pursuant to the present invention comprises a plurality of substantially ball-shaped units designated as 20, each of said units being formed in the manner hereinafter described.

An initially flat, preferably circular piece of flexible material such as 22, which may be cloth or any similar suitable material, is gathered about its edges as illusice trated in FIG. 4, this gathering being accomplished by means of running a thread 24 about the peripheral edge of said piece of material 22 and drawing the ends of thread 24 together once the piece of material 22 has been completely circumscribed, whereby to draw the edges together and cause the piece of material 22 to assume a cup-shaped configuration. v

The gathering above mentioned, may be accomplished by the use of thread as hereinabove described or, may possibly be accomplished by means of suitable adhesives or thelike whereby to bring piece of material 22 from its initial flat shape into its cup-shaped configuration. In this respect, it willalso be appreciated that the piece of material 22 may assume an initial configuration other than circular, the latter configuration being illustrated in the drawing for purposes, of a representative showing.

The cup-shaped receptacle formed as above described, is broadly designated by the numeral 26 and has an open top whereby an insert 28 may be placed within the con fines of receptacle 26 through said open top thereof.

Insert 28, for purposes of illustration, has been shown as a ball of cotton or similar material, but it is obvious that the same may be of any suitable flexible and somewhat compressible material such as a rubber, plastic or similar material suitable for use in the making of rugs, mats or the like. Prior to the insertion of insert 28 within cup-shaped receptacle 26 and for ease of construction, patch 30 is placed in overlying relationship to the insert 28. As the insert 28 is placed within the receptacle 26, a portion of the patch 30 will also be disposed within the confines of said receptacle 26. Further, a section of said patch will extend through the opening in the receptacle 26, and it is preferable that this section be pointed as illustrated in the drawing.

The thread 24 is then utilized to draw the edges of receptacle 26 inwardly, whereby to completely enclose the insert 28 and a substantial portion of the patch 30, the peak or pointed portion 32 of patch 30 extending through the opening remaining in the receptacle 26. The patch 30 is then secured to the receptacle 26 as illustrated in FIG. 7 by passing a thread through the patch 30 and through the walls of receptacle 26.

As is illustrated in the drawing, the finished ball-like unit 20 has a substantially spherical configuration with the exception of the peaked or pointed portion of patch 30 which extends outwardly through the opening allowed to remain in receptacle 26.

Once a plurality of units have been created as above described, the same are secured together in contiguous side-by-side relationship whereby to form a mat, rug or the like. It is preferred that the units 20 be secured together as by running a thread through several units as illustrated in the drawing, or, as is apparent, the said units 20 may be secured together by means of adhesive or the like.

Once the units have been so disposed, there is created an attractive rug, mat or the like, and it will be appreciated that the appearance and design of the rug may be varied through the utilization of various colored materials in the construction of unit 20, for example, by forming the receptacle 26 of a material of one color and forming the patch 30 of a material of another color whereby to create a pleasing contrast in color for each unit and thus for the entire rug. By the same token, the rug may be created from a plurality of units, each of the units assuming a different color and being arranged in the desired relationship whereby to provide a pleasing overall design and appearance for the rug.

As is apparent, the materials necessary for making such a rug are easily obtainable and in fact, can be obtained from scrap material which is cut to the proper configuration whereby to provide an initial piece of material 22 and a patch of material 30 which are ultimately brought together, the enclosure or insert 28 being formed from a ball of cotton or similar material. Thus, there has been provided a method of making a rug which is simple and which utilizes economical materials and which will be efiective in forming a rug or the like which is pleasing in appearance and which is capable of withstanding a substantial amount of Wear.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A rug comprising a plurality of substantially ballshaped units secured together in contiguous relationship, each of said units including a cup-shaped receptacle of flexible material, an insert of relatively soft material, and

is formed from a piece of flexible material of one color and said patch is material of a diflering color.

5. A rug comprising a plurality of substantially ballshaped units secured together in contiguous relationship, each of said units including a cup-shaped receptacle of flexible material having the edges thereof gathered, whereby to define an opening therein; an insert of relatively soft material disposed within the confines of said receptacle; and a patch of material overlying said insert and having a portion thereof within the confines of said receptacle, the remainder of said patch protruding through said opening, said patch being secured to said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,493,351 Le Fort May 6, 1924 2,089,755 Merwitz Aug. 10, 1937 2,429,281 Solins Oct. 21, 1947 2,880,493 Mitchell Apr. 7. 1 

1. A RUG COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY BALLSHAPED UNITS SECURED TOGETHER IN CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID UNITS INCLUDING A CUP-SHAPED RECEPTACLE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, AN INSERT OF RELATIVELY SOFT MATERIAL, AND A PATCH OF MATERIAL CLOSING THE OPENING IN SAID RECEPTACLE AND RETAINING SAID INSERT THEREWITHIN. 